Just look at the transformation this drab underpass in Westminster has undergone.
The pedestrian walkway in Marylebone Road, near Baker Street, has replaced its dingy walls and unreliable lighting with The Wonderpass - a crossing which is part optical illusion, part local encyclopedia and part gallery.
The walk-through cultural experience includes five Cabinets of Wonder, which invite passers-by to peek inside to learn about Baker Street’s rich cultural history, while the walls are also filled with Baker Street trivia.
The Wonderpass has been commissioned by the Baker Street Quarter Partnership and funded by Transport for London (TfL) and Westminster City Council through the Bryanston & Dorset, Marylebone High Street and Regent’s Park Ward contributions.
The Wonderpass is produced by arts organisation Sing London. Creative director Colette Hiller said: “The Wonderpass is not just about getting from A to B – it’s about enjoying the journey.”
And Baker Street Quarter Partnership chief executive Penny Alexander said: “The Wonderpass provides the magnificent fanfare welcome this area deserves celebrating its fascinating past and showcasing our great attractions.”
And Ben Plowden, director of surface strategy and planning at TfL , said: “Along with the Mayor we are committed to working with all London boroughs to improve streets and transform public spaces across the Capital.
“The Wonderpass is a fantastic example of maximising the opportunity of essential maintenance and safety improvements to transform a once bleak walkway into a cultural destination in its own right, which matches the rich history of the local area.”
